Lewis Hamilton is looking to deal a decisive blow to title rival Sebastian Vettel in Sunday’s United States Grand Prix, claiming he has the Ferrari driver at “check” after a season-long game of chess.
Hamilton has been on fire in Austin and out-paced Vettel by more than three tenths of a second as he cruised to pole position on Saturday.
The Briton leads the championship by 59 points and can wrap up the title if he goes on to win the race and Vettel finishes sixth or lower.
And whilst Hamilton still expects the battle to go “to the wire”, he views the race as an opportunity to deliver a knockout blow.
“It’s a bit like a game of chess,” he said. “Right now it’s check but there is still a long, long way to go. There are still 100 points available.
“Sebastian and his team have been working as hard as they can, as are we. Who knows? It’s going to go to the wire.”
“I hope tomorrow I can get a good start and really put the nail in the coffin,” the five-time US GP winner added.
The pair are braced for an intense scrap at the Circuit of the Americas, with Vettel eyeing a first win since Hungary as he looks to engineer a sensational turnaround.
“It’s pretty straightforward: we have to win and then see what happens,” Vettel said.
“We are not in the position we would like to be, but still we have a chance and we will go.
“We had the car in the last three races so I don’t see why we shouldn’t have the package in the next four races.”
